Directional signal switch



June 8, 1937. PERROTT 2,083,470

DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL SWITCH Filed July 15, 1935 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATET orFicE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL SWITCH Application July 15, 1935, Serial No. 31,468

1 Claim.

This invention relates to directional signal switches particularly adapted for use in connec tion with motor vehicle directional signals and has for an object to provide a switch which will 5 be automatically operated by the steering mechamanually by the driver.

A further object is to provide a directional signal switch including a pair of movable rounded spring arms forming movable switch contacts which are selectively displaceable to engage a fixed switch contact by means of a lever pivoted at the center of curvature of both movable switch contacts and operatively connected to the crank of the steering mechanism whereby when the crank is moved to turn the front wheels in either direction the end of the lever will displace one of the movable switch contacts and close the circuit to the selected directional signal.

A further object is to provide a switch of this character which may be easily and quickly installed on a vehicle without alterations to the vehicle and will include a housing to protect the parts of the switch from the weather.

A still further object is to provide a switch of this character which will be formed of a few,

strong, simple, and durable parts, which will be easy to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch constructed in accordance with the invention, in applied position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the housing and exposing the switch parts in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 0f Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the Various views, ID designates a front wheel and a part of a motor vehicle chassis adjacent to the front wheel. The crank and connecting rod of the, vehicle steering mechanism is indicated respectively at l2 and I3.

The invention comprises a box-like support Hi formed of insulating material and including end walls 5, a top l6, a back IT, a bottom I8 which is cut away centrally to provide an elongated slot l9, and a low front wall 28.

A fixed switch contact 2| is secured to the inner face of the top B6 of the support and is preferably formed of a copper bar spaced from the to of the support and having one end bent angularly and riveted to the top of the support as shown at 2'2, and having the opposite end bent angularly and secured to the top of the support by means of a binding post 23 to which may be attached a wire connected to any live wire of the electrical circuits of the vehicle controlled by the ignition switch so that when the ignition switch is off the switch contact 2| is dead.

A pair of rounded switch contacts and 25, preferably formed of spring metal of good electrical conductivity, are arranged below the stationary contact 2| and coact in forming an interrupted circumference of a circle as shown. Each contact is provided at the lower end with an outwardly directed foot 26 which is secured to the bottom of the support on one end of the slot l9, by means of a binding post 21 to which may be secured the conductor wire of a corresponding directional signal of conventional type. the opposite end of the switch contact is directed upwardly at an angle with respect to the rounded portion of the contact and normally extends vertically upward to within a short distance of the fixed switch contact 2| so that there exists a gap between the end 26 of the movable switch contact and the bottom face of the fixed switch contact.

A lever 28 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 29 the ends of which are secured in the back and front walls of the support It. The pivot pin is disposed at substantially the center of said interrupted circumference formed by the curved or rounded portions of the movable switch contacts 24. The lever preferably is formed of metal, and riveted as shown at 30 in Figure 3 to the upper end of the lever is a bar 3| of insulating material, the bar having an opening 32 to receive the pivot pin and having a shoulder 33 adjacent the opening and against which the end of the lever 28 abuts. The bar 3| is further provided with a recess 34 in the front face which receives the upper portion of a metal washer 35 which is mounted on the pivot pin 29 and bears against the upper end of the lever 28. Spacing washers 36 are disposed on the pivot pin outside of the bar 3| and the washers 38 and bear against the front and rear walls of the support to prevent rattling.

The tip end of the insulating bar 3| is rounded as shown at 31' and normally projects in between the parallel free ends 26' of the movable switch contacts 24. When swung on the pivot pin 29 the rounded insulated end 3"! of the lever 28 rides upon the rounded switch contact as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2 and deforms the contact so that the tip end 26' of the contact engages with the fixed switch contact 2! and slightly bows the fixed switch contact upwardly so that a tight engagement is maintained between the movable switch contact and the fixed switch contact until the lever is returned to normal position.

A single securing bolt 38 is passed through the support l4 and is fixedly secured to the support by nuts 39. The bolt may be easily passed through an opening made for the purpose in the chassis or body of the vehicle and secured rigidly in place by means of nuts 41!).

A link 4! is pivotally secured to the lever 28 by means of a pivot bolt 52 and is pivotaliy secured to the crank I2 by means of a pivot bolt 43. The link is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 4 1 to interchangeably receive the pivot bolt 42 and accommodate the device to various makes of motor vehicles.

A housing 25 is fitted over the support 14 and may be of any desired shape and formed of any suitable material. The housing is provided with openings 46 through which the various conductor wires may be passed. A skirt ll depends from the bottom of the housing and is provided in the bottom with a longitudinal slot 48 to acoommodate the lever 28.

In operation when the ignition switch is turned on the fixed switch contact is in circuit with the source .of electricity. When the driver turns the front wheels in either to the right or to the left the crank l 2 will be respectively swung forwardly or rearwardly and through the link ll will swing the lever 28 on its pivot 29 to deform one of the movable switch contacts 2% or .25 according to the direction of movement of the lever and hold the deformed switch contact in engagement with the fixed switch contact 2! so that the associated directional signal lamp will be energized. It will be pointed out that the switch is automatic and begins to operate the moment the vehicle wheels are turned in making a left or right turn, and thus the driver may devote his whole attention to driving.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

A directional signal controlling switch for motor vehicles, comprising a box-like support formed of insulating material, a fixed switch contact secured to the inner face of the top of the support and formed of spring metal spaced from the top of the support, a pair of rounded switch contacts formed of spring metal and arranged below the stationary contact and coacting in forming an interrupted circumference of a circle, a bind ing post for securing the lower end of each rounded switch contact to the support and adapted to be connected to the conductor wire of a corresponding directional signal, the free end of each rounded switch contact being directed upwardly at an angle with respect to the rounded portion of the contact and normally extending upward to within a short distance of said fixed switch contact so that there exists a gap between said vertically directed end and the bottom face of the fixed switch contact, a lever adapted to be secured to the steering knuckle crank of the motor vehicle, a pivot pin for the lever secured to the support, the pivot pin being disposed at substan tially the center of said interrupted circumference formed by the curved rounded portions of the movable switch contacts, a bar of insulating material fixed. to the upper end of the lever and forming a continuation of the lever, the bar having a recess therein, the tip end of said bar normally projecting in between the parallel free ends of the rounded switch contacts whereby when the lever is swung on the pivot pin the end of the insulated bar rides upon one of the rounded switch contacts and deforms the contact to circuit closing position to engage and slightly bow the fixed switch contact so that a tight electrical engagement is maintained to resist shocks and jars, and a washer on the pivot pin seated in said recess and forming a stop to limit yielding movement of either of the rounded switch contacts toward the pivot pin when the mating rounded switch contact is displaced to circuit closing position.

FRANK LEWIS PERROT'I. 

